Vishal  Menon

Vishal Menon

Author

Vishal has been a writer and a critic for over 10 years. He writes predominantly about Malayalam and Tamil cinema.

MORE FROM VISHAL MENON

Roshan Mathew in a still from ‘Chatha Pacha’
Interviews

‘Chatha Pacha’ Is the Most Physically Demanding Film I’ve Done: Roshan Mathew

The actor on training for the ring, injury-proofing the body, and why authenticity mattered in the WWE-inspired Malayalam film.

BY Vishal Menon
Arjun Ashokan Confirms Mammootty Cameo in 'Chatha Pacha'
Insight

Exclusive | Arjun Ashokan Confirms Mammootty Cameo in 'Chatha Pacha': 'Mammukka Is Just The Same'

Arjun plays a wrestler named Loco Lobo in the action comedy 

BY Vishal Menon
A still from 'Vaa Vaathiyaar'
Theatrical

'Vaa Vaathiyar' Movie Review: Something Is Amiss In Karthi's Vigilante Movie Remix

Director Nalan Kumarasamy and Karthi's film doesn't do enough with its several fascinating ideas and premise

BY Vishal Menon
A still from 'Sirai'
Theatrical

'Sirai' Movie Review: Well-Written Drama About a Cop Transforming from Hero to Human

With many smart touches in the writing, Vikram Prabhu's 'Sirai' makes a living, breathing life form of what could easily have remained an intellectual exercise

BY Vishal Menon
A still from 'Mindiyum Paranjum'
Theatrical

'Mindiyum Paranjum' Movie Review: Aparna Balamurali and Unni Mukundan's Long-Distance Relationship Drama is a Thing of Joy

Aparna Balamurali and Unni Mukundan share a joyous chemistry in this intimate take on the long-distance relationship

BY Vishal Menon
Mohanlal in 'Hridayapoorvam', Kalyani Priyadarshan in 'Lokah' and Mammootty in 'Kalamkaval'
Columns

The Best Malayalam Film Performances Of 2025

Superhero movies with a callback to folk tales, a horror movie that begins with a hero “ghosting” his girlfriend and a flashback to the Mohanlal-Sathyan Anthikad comedies of the 80’s…Malayalam cinema had it all this year. In a year of such variety, performances couldn’t have been ordinary  

BY Vishal Menon
A still from 'Pharma'
Streaming

'Pharma' Series Review: Earnest Nivin Pauly In A Medico-Thriller That Requires Patience

As clunky as the making might seem, 'Pharma' works best as a fairly engaging second-screen experience.

BY Vishal Menon
A still from 'Bha Bha Ba'
Theatrical

'Bha Bha Ba' Movie Review: Dileep’s Mass Action Comeback Is Absolute Gibberish

In its effort to create a film that tries to be wild, we’re left feeling like we’re watching gibberish on screen.

BY Vishal Menon
A still from 'Kalamkaval'
Theatrical

'Kalamkaval' Movie Review: Mammootty Like Never Before In This Genre-Defining Thriller

Vinayakan is surely the film’s driving force, but Mammootty also shows us a side to him that we haven’t yet witnessed before

BY Vishal Menon
A still from 'Stephen'
Streaming

'Stephen' Movie Review: Explosive Ideas In This Uneven Serial Killer Origin Story

This experiment never devolves into a mere indulgence and director Mithun maintains control over his complex material, even when it looks like it’s slipping away

BY Vishal Menon
Bahul Ramesh and a still from 'Eko'
Interviews

'Eko' Explained: Bahul Ramesh Deconstructs the Layers of His Hit Thriller (Spoilers Ahead)

Bahul Ramesh, the writer-cinematographer of the Malayalam mystery thriller 'Eko,' explains the hidden meanings and secrets of the third film in his Animal Trilogy.

BY Vishal Menon
Keerthy Suresh in 'Revolver Rita'
Theatrical

'Revolver Rita' Movie Review: A Lazy Comedy That Comes 15 Years Too Late

'Revolver Rita', in all fairness, appears to be a film that was found in one of the old Seagate hard disks of a gone era.

BY Vishal Menon
Victoria
Theatrical

'Victoria' Movie Review: Meenakshi Jayan's Rock-Solid Performance Anchors This Moving Sisterhood Drama 

Written and directed by Sivaranjini, 'Victoria' is a moving drama, peppered with humour.

BY Vishal Menon
Posters of Mankatha, Yennai Arindhaal, Kadhal Kottai, Vaalee, and Dheena.
Insight

Ajith Kumar's Journey in Milestones: Five Of His Most Memorable Performances

These five key performances turned Ajith Kumar into one of Indian cinema’s most enduring stars.

BY Vishal Menon
Prithviraj in 'Vilayath Buddha'
Theatrical

'Vilayath Buddha' Movie Review: One Too Many Subplots In Prithviraj’s Shaky Mess

With too many narrative tracks overstaying their welcome, 'Vilayath Buddha' never quite manages to achieve the lived-in feeling of the world Indugopan created with his two previous films

BY Vishal Menon
Mammootty in 'Kalamkaval' 
Interviews

Exclusive| Behind The Anatomy Of Mammootty’s Viral “Evil” Expression In 'Kalamkaval'

Jithin K Jose, the first-time director of Mammootty’s new serial killer thriller, decodes the notes that went into creating the shot that became instantly iconic.

BY Vishal Menon
A still from 'Kaantha'
Theatrical

'Kaantha' Movie Review: Dulquer Salmaan Is Arresting In This Meta Masterpiece

'Kaantha' is a truly special film that rises above the limitations of a meta drama and an investigative thriller.

BY Vishal Menon
A still from 'Diés Iraé'
Interviews

Exclusive | Rahul Sadasivan Unpacks The Hidden Meanings In 'Diés Iraé'

After his third consecutive superhit, director-writer Rahul Sadasivan reveals Easter Eggs from his latest release.

BY Vishal Menon
An illustration for 'Maheshinte Prathikaram'
Insight

THR India's 25 in 25: 'Maheshinte Prathikaram' and The Comedy of Revenge

The Hollywood Reporter India picks the 25 best Indian films of the 21st century. Making the list is Dileesh Pothan's 'Maheshinte Prathikaram', a Malayalam classic that found beauty in restraint and redemption through revenge.

BY Suvigya Buch +1 More
'Kumbalangi Nights'
Insight

THR India's 25 in 25: How 'Kumbalangi Nights' Found Poetry in Imperfection and Home in Chaos

The Hollywood Reporter India picks the 25 best Indian films of the 21st century. Making the list is Madhu C. Narayanan's 'Kumbalangi Nights', arguably the single most seminal Malayalam film for the way it cultivated an audience for the industry outside of Kerala.

BY Vishal Menon